We know all too well that life as a parent can be hectic and busy! Dropping your children off at nursery or school on time can be a challenge but doing it on two or three wheels doesn't have to be, in fact it can add lots of fun to your mornings. That's where the best cargo bikes for families can come in.

Cargo bikes are becoming more and more popular with families and here at Cycle Sprog, we have firsthand experience of these fabulous machines to carry our children with. They can be an excellent way to upgrade from using a bike seat or a trailer as your children grow older.

With the added electric assist and the ability to carry children as well as other things, electric cargo bikes are an excellent way to drive less or get rid of your (second) car. It can also save you time, because you won’t get stuck in congestion or spend ages looking for a parking spot.

Electric cargo bikes don’t come cheap, but are a great investment for your family for years to come. We’re here to help you make a decision on choosing from the best cargo bikes for families.

There are a lot of things to consider when buying a cargo bike, including e-bike motor and battery options, cargo bike insurance and the best cargo bike locks.

If you’re not sure what to look out for in a cargo bike, then use the links below or scroll to the bottom of the page for more information on how to choose from the best cargo bikes.

Contents

Use the links below to jump to the most relevant section for your needs.

• Quick picks: for parents in a hurry
• Best cargo bikes for families
• How to choose from the best cargo bikes

Mycle Cargo Electric Bike

Best budget electric cargo bike

• Price: from £2,499
• Weight of bike: 33 kg
• Length of bike: 197 cm
• Number of children: up to 2
• Wheel size: 20”
• Motor: 250W 48V brushless rear hub-drive motor (brand not specified)
• Max torque: 65 Nm
• Gears: Shimano 7 speed
• Brakes: hydraulic disc brakes
• Max weight of cargo + rider: 210 kg
• Warranty: 1 year, with option to purchase an additional year

Buy if: You’ve got a limited budget and want to carry one or two children for daily journeys.

The Mycle Cargo Electric Bike is a longtail bike that can seat one or two children on the rear rack. It is the cheapest longtail bike available in the UK, at the time of writing.

This electric longtail bike can carry an impressive 125 kg load on the back of the bike.

We had a range of people put the Mycle Cargo to the test; read our Mycle Cargo Electric Bike review.

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Decathlon Elops R500

Best budget longtail bike with front suspension

• Price: from £2,999
• Weight of bike: 38 kg
• Length of bike: 220 cm
• Number of children: up to 2
• Wheel size: 20” rear, 26” front
• Motor: 250W 48V rear hub-drive motor (brand not specified)
• Max torque: 58 Nm
• Gears: 8 speed
• Brakes: hydraulic disc brakes
• Max weight of cargo: 170 kg
• Warranty: 2 year

Buy if: you haven't got a massive budget and don't mind a slightly longer bike.

The Decathlon Elops R500 electric cargo bike offers seating for one or two children and start assistance trigger (a so called 'throttle') to support you on hill starts. The maximum load for the rear rack is 80 kg, which is plenty for two children unless they’re teenagers. This cargo bikes comes fitted with the metal enclosure, so you only need to buy seats or seat pads and you're set.

This longtail bike is the longest on this list at 220 cm long, which is significantly longer than a normal bike. The step through is also higher than on most other cargo bikes on this list, which may not suit shorter riders.

This cargo bike has front suspension and a large front wheel, which is impressive for the price tag.

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Tern GSD S10 LR Gen 2

Best longtail cargo bike

• Price: from £5,100
• Weight of bike: 33.58 kg
• Length of bike: 180 cm
• Number of children: up to 2
• Wheel size: 20”
• Motor: Bosch Cargo Line mid-drive motor
• Max torque: 85 Nm
• Gears: Shimano 10 speed
• Brakes: Magura 4-pistons hydraulic disc brakes
• Max weight of cargo + rider: 200 kg
• Warranty: 5 years warranty on frame, handlepost, and fork. 1 year warranty on all Tern or BioLogic branded parts and components, except as noted on the website.

Buy if: you’re looking for a longtail bike that is reliable and versatile.

The Tern GSD S10 seats two children on the rear rack and is becoming a common sight in cities and towns across the UK.

The GSD is sometimes called ‘Getting Stuff Done’ and owners will soon find out that this bike is capable of hauling kids as well as pretty much anything else you’d like to carry, with the rear rack capable of carrying up to 100 kg.

Cycle Sprog contributor Laura and her family uses a Tern GSD for daily journeys as well as for family bike packing. Read their story about Cargo bikes, family cycle tours and 80s pop stars.

Read about how we think the Tern GSD compares with the Mycle Cargo: Can the budget Mycle Cargo compete with the high-end TernGSD longtail?

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Urban Arrow Family

Best electric box bike

• Price: from £5,399
• Weight of bike: 48 kg
• Length of bike: 258 cm
• Number of children: up to 4
• Wheel size: 26” rear, 20” front
• Motor: Bosch Active Line mid-drive motor
• Max torque: 50 Nm
• Gears: Enviolo Heavy Duty
• Brakes: Tektro 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes
• Max weight of cargo + rider: 250 kg
• Warranty: 5-year warranty on the frame and fork, excluding wear parts; 2-year guarantee on the paintwork and visible rust from the inside; 2-year warranty on all other parts.

Buy if: you are looking for the most comfortable and fun cargo bike to ride with a baby or toddler in the mix.

The Urban Arrow Family is an electric box bike that can seat up to three children in the box (up to 125 kg) and one child in a bike seat on the rear rack.

This is definitely not the most lightweight cargo bike, but a very comfortable, upright bike to ride, with spacious seating for children and space for other things you want to carry.

Cycle Sprog Content Editor, Saskia, has been riding an Urban Arrow Family with her two kids for over six years now and loves it!

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Riese & Müller Load4 60

Best multi-terrain cargo bike

• Price: from £6,869
• Weight of bike: 36.6 kg
• Length of bike: 248 cm
• Number of children: up to 2
• Wheel size: 26” rear, 20” front
• Motor: Bosch Cargo Line mid-drive motor
• Max torque: 85 Nm
• Gears: Enviolo 280
• Brakes: Tektro 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes
• Max weight of cargo + rider: 200 kg
• Warranty: 5 years

Buy if: you want a lightweight box bike for up to 2 children that can go on gravel tracks.

The Riese & Müller Load is an electric box bike with full suspension, for people who like to have the option to cycle on gravel tracks and forest trails, as well as on tarmac.

It seats two children up to 7 years old comfortably in the box, with independently adjustable seats for smaller children (good for naps!).

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Tern Quick Haul D8

Best cargo bike for carrying one child

• Price: from £2,900
• Weight of bike: 22.8 kg
• Length of bike: 172 cm
• Number of children: 1
• Wheel size: 20”
• Motor: Bosch Active Line Plus mid-drive motor
• Max torque: 50 Nm
• Gears: Shimano 8 speed
• Brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc brakes
• Max weight of cargo + rider: 150 kg
• Warranty: 5 years warranty on frame, handlepost, and fork. 1 year warranty on all Tern or BioLogic branded parts and components, except as noted on the website.

Buy if: you want a compact e-bike to carry one child with enough power for not too hilly areas.

The best longtail bike to carry one child must be the Tern Quick Haul D8, with good specs and a generous carrying capacity on the rear rack of 50 kg.

This wouldn’t be the best bike for hauling a teenager on a steep hill, but would be a great option for carrying one child in not so hilly areas.

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How much should I spend on a cargo bike?

We recommend you spend as much as you can on a cargo bike, especially an electric cargo bike. The biggest regret most people have after buying one is not doing it sooner or not spending more on a bike with better specs!

More expensive cargo bikes usually come with components from reputable brands which means your local bike shops will most likely be happy to service it, and it will be easy to get hold of new parts if needed.

We've written even more on how much an electric family cargo bike will cost.

The secondhand market for cargo bikes is growing, so if you’re not set on a specific model, you may find one for sale secondhand.

Be mindful of scams though - here’s what to look out for so you don’t buy a stolen bike.

How do I carry my children on a cargo bike?

This will depend on the age of your children, the type of cargo bike you are riding and everyone’s personal preferences.

On a longtail cargo bike, children can sit on rear bike seats, or on seat pads, sometimes with a metal bar around them. Some or all of these are optional accessories, so will need to be purchased separately.

If you're considering one of the best electric box bikes, with these children usually sit on benches or seats. Most will offer an adapter to fit a car seat for a baby.

Some longtail bikes are suitable for towing, if you've got one of the best kids' bike trailers to hand, so you can carry an additional child or two in there, including babies who are too small for a bike seat.

Do I need insurance for a cargo bike?

By law, you don’t need insurance for a cargo bike, but we highly recommend you take some out to cover yourself in case of theft.

There are two ways to cover your cargo bike: by adding it to your home contents insurance, or by taking out specialist insurance.

You can find out all the information on our cargo bike insurance guide.

You might also want to consider third party liability insurance, which covers damage to another person or their property. £10m third party liability insurance is included in Cycling UK membership.

What accessories do I need for a cargo bike?

This will depend on what you’ll be using the cargo bike for as well as the age of your children and the type of cargo bike you’re riding.

For box bikes, a rain canopy is a good option to protect your children from the rain and cold. For longtail bikes, a weather shield is sometimes available, although a bit more hassle to use than on a box bike.

If you’re looking to carry lots of bags or do a weekly shop, then panniers on the rear rack and perhaps a front rack (if compatible) will be a great addition to your cargo bike. Most cargo bike brands offer a range of accessories that you can choose from.

Other articles you might be interested in:

• Best electric longtail cargo bikes to carry kids
• Best electric box bikes to carry kids
• Cargo bike insurance: a comprehensive guide
• How to start cycling with a small child in a bike seat, cargo bike or trailer
• 7 reasons to ride an electric cargo bike with your kids
• 2 vs 3 wheeled cargo bikes; which is best for carrying kids? 
• What type of cargo bike is best for my family?
• How much does an electric family cargo bike cost?